‎47 years ago, Masanori Murakami bacame the first Japanese national to play MLB on September 1, 1964. "Mashi" was originally signed by the Nankai Hawks of the NPB's Pacific League playing his first game on June 1, 1963. In 1964, the Hawks sent him and two other players to the San Francisco Giants.

The 20 year-old had a 11-7 record with a 1.78 ERA in 49 games with class A Fresno Giants in 1964 before making his MLB debut where his first 11 innings were scoreless. Murakami went a 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA with SF in 1964 and 4-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 1965.

An international incident occurred when the Nankai Hawks demanded the Giants return Masanori which ultimately led to MLB Commissioner Ford Frick to sever relations with NPB. Under pressure from the Hawks, the NPB, the Japanese Government and even his parents, Murakami signed with Nankai for the 1966 season.

Masanori Murakami compiled a 5-1 record with a 3.43 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 89.1 innings in MLB in 1964-1965. In the NPB, he had 103–82 record with an ERA of 3.64 and 30 saves in 1963, and from 1966-1982.

(My analysis: Murakami's Japanese career never lived up to his Major League potential due to injuries and overcoaching in Japan - Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow)

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